Billy Porter Unleashes His Frustration on Harry Styles' 'Vogue' Cover & Takes on Anna Wintour

Billy Porter continues to express his strong sentiments regarding Harry Styles' Vogue December 2020 cover. In an interview with The Telegraph on Friday, August 11, the 53-year-old actor voices his disappointment, claiming that Vogue failed to acknowledge the LGBTQ+ community's significant influence on the fashion industry. Porter criticizes the magazine's choice to feature Styles, a heterosexual individual, wearing a dress on the cover.

Harry Styles, 29, has chosen not to publicly disclose his sexuality, stating in an interview with Rolling Stone in August 2022, "I've made the decision not to waste my time correcting the narratives that are formed about me."

Porter countered, saying, "Harry Styles shouldn't be blamed for being a white, attractive, straight individual who fits into society's norms ... I'm challenging those who control access and opportunities."

"I don't feel good about this," expressed Porter. "You or your team are exploiting my community to boost your own image. You haven't had to give up anything in return."

Porter revealed that he was particularly upset because he had taken part in a Q&A about inclusivity with Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour six months before Styles appeared on the cover.

Porter expressed to The Telegraph that he was caught off guard when the person in question asked, "How can we do better?" He deeply regrets not responding with encouraging words to Anna Wintour, urging her to uplift the voices of those leading the de-gendering of the fashion movement.

In an interview with The Sunday Times in October 2021, Porter claimed that he sparked the conversation about nonbinary fashion. Despite this, Vogue chose to feature Harry Styles, a straight white man, wearing a dress on their cover for the first time. (It is worth noting that Porter himself has been seen wearing gowns and heels on the red carpet.)

Porter emphasized, "I pioneered this movement, and now it has become a trend that everyone is following." "I don't want to criticize Harry Styles, but is he really the best person to symbolize this meaningful discourse? It seems like he's just jumping on the bandwagon without any genuine concern."

Furthermore, Porter expressed, "To me, this is a political issue that directly relates to my life. I have had to struggle my entire life in order to reach a point where I can confidently wear a dress to the Oscars without facing any threats. All Harry Styles has to do is be white and heterosexual."

Porter issued an apology for mentioning Styles during a November 2021 interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, stating, "I apologize for mentioning your name and want to clarify that the conversation was not focused on you." As of now, Styles has not responded to Porter's remarks.